Mary Doria Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Doria Russell
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Russell at the annual conference of the American Library Association, January 2008
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| Born | August 19, 1950 Elmhurst, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Period | 1995–present |
| Genre | Science fiction, historical fiction |
| Notable works | The Sparrow Children of God Doc Epitaph |
| Notable awards | James Tiptree, Jr. Award, BSFA Award, Arthur C. Clarke Award, John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Kurd Lasswitz Preis, ALA Top Pick in Historical Fiction, Ohioana Fiction Prize |
Mary Doria Russell (born August 19, 1950) is an American writer. She is known for her interesting novels that mix different styles. Her books often explore big questions about life, history, and even space.
Contents
Early Life and School
Mary Doria Russell was born in Elmhurst, Illinois. She grew up there and later went to Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois. After high school, she continued her education at the University of Michigan.
Mary Doria Russell's Writing Career
Mary Doria Russell has written many books. Her stories often take readers to different times and places, from outer space to historical events.
The Sparrow Series: Space and Big Questions
Mary Doria Russell's first two novels are The Sparrow and its follow-up, Children of God. These books are sometimes called the Sparrow series. They are a type of science fiction called speculative fiction. This means they imagine what might happen if something big, like meeting aliens, really happened.
The stories look at what it would be like for humans to meet aliens for the first time. They also explore deep questions about why bad things happen in the world. They ask how suffering can exist if there is a good and powerful God.
The Sparrow won several important science fiction awards. These include the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Tiptree Award. Because of this book, Russell also won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1998.
Other Exciting Novels
After her science fiction series, Mary Doria Russell started writing mostly historical fiction. These novels tell stories that take place in the past, but she often adds elements from other types of stories too.
A Thread of Grace: A World War II Story
A Thread of Grace (published in 2005) is a thrilling story set during World War II. It takes place in Northern Italy. The book follows the Italian resistance movement, who were fighting against the Nazis. It also shows the difficult journey of Jewish refugees trying to escape from Nazi Germany. Many Italian people helped these refugees find safe places to hide during the war. Russell herself has Italian family roots.
Dreamers of the Day: Shaping the Middle East
Dreamers of the Day (from 2008) is a historical romance. It is set after World War I and during the time of the Great Influenza. The story focuses on the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference. At this meeting, important British figures like Winston Churchill helped create the modern Middle East. The book explores how decisions made then might have led to conflicts in the region later on.
Doc: A Wild West Mystery
Doc (published in 2011) is a mystery novel. It tells a realistic story about the famous "gambler and gunman" Doc Holliday. The book is set in Dodge City, Kansas, in 1878. This was a time when Doc Holliday could still work as a dentist, which he was very good at. The story is about a mysterious death in the city and how it affects everyone. Doc was chosen as a top historical fiction book by the American Library Association.
Epitaph: The O.K. Corral Story
Epitaph (from 2015) continues the story from Doc. It follows Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers to Tombstone, Arizona. The book explores the reasons behind the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It also looks at how the legends around this event were created. Mary Doria Russell did a lot of research for this book. She even rode a horse for 58 miles through the mountains to retrace a historical journey! Many people praised this book for its accuracy and storytelling.
The Women of the Copper Country: A True Strike Story
The Women of the Copper Country (published in 2019) is a carefully researched novel. It is about the Copper Country strike of 1913–1914 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This was a big strike where workers fought for better conditions against copper mining companies. The main character, "Big Annie" Clements, is based on a real person named Anna Clemenc. She was known as "America's Joan of Arc" and helped lead the women's group of the miners' union. The book also features other real historical figures from that time.
Mary Doria Russell often gives talks at colleges, universities, and libraries. She shares her knowledge and experiences with students and readers.
Books by Mary Doria Russell
- The Sparrow (Villard, 1996; Ballantine, 1997)
- Children of God (Villard, 1998; Ballantine, 1999)
- A Thread of Grace (Random House, 2005; Ballantine, 2006)
- Dreamers of the Day (Random House, 2008; Ballantine 2009)
- Doc (Random House 2011; Ballantine, 2012)
- Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2015 hc, 2016 tradepaper)
- The Women of the Copper Country: A Novel (Atria Books, 2019 hc, 2020 tradepaper)
Awards and Recognition
- James Tiptree, Jr. Award, 1997, for The Sparrow
- Arthur C. Clarke Award, 1998, for The Sparrow
- BSFA Award for Best Novel, 1998, for The Sparrow (UK edition: Transworld Publishers Black Swan, 1997)
- John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 1998, for The Sparrow
- Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame Award, 2001, for The Sparrow and Children of God
- Kurd Lasswitz Preis (Germany), best foreign novel, 2001, for The Sparrow
